The fatality on westbound Route 78, just west of Sycamore Drive, occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Monday, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jim Bettencourt.

The big rig driver, a 49-year-old Vista man, was traveling around 40-45 miles per hour when he came upon the pedestrian walking with his head down in the middle of the driver’s traffic lane, Bettencourt said in a statement.

“(The driver) swerved to the right in an attempt to avoid the pedestrian but was unable to do so and struck him with the front of his truck,” Bettencourt said, adding that the pedestrian died at the scene.

The driver was not hurt, he said.

— City News Serivice

CHP Seeking Identity of Pedestrian Killed by Big Rig on 78 was last modified: March 3rd, 2015 by Chris Jennewein

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